So Wonderful to be Back in School!
We love the first week back at school! The energy, the wide-eyed excitement, the smiles, the joyful learning. Students filling our learning spaces, asking questions, collaborating, and making connections. All week in classrooms we have been struck by the learning communities that are developing, the care students are showing for themselves, their classmates, and ISB.
We also have some exciting new learning spaces that will enhance and extend the incredible learning happening in classrooms. With our Agriculture Garden, students will be able to apply their learning in an authentic context. The Learning HUB Terrace is a place where students can continue to nurture their love of reading. In our PK/KG quad, students will be able to explore and create in the central piazza.
Settling in well is important for families – please free to ask questions of teachers, other parents and of us, as we are here to help.
We are filled with hope and possibility for the year to come!
Warmly,
Kelly Armitage
ES Principal
Keith Collins
Sarah Fleming
ES Vice-Principals
ES Open House – Aug. 25 @ 6:30pm in the Chevron Theater
We warmly invite you to our ES Open House on Thursday, August 25 at 6:30pm in the Chevron Theater. This is a wonderful night to meet your child’s teachers, understand classroom procedures and expectations, and learn more about the learning your child will experience at ISB this year. You will be able to meet homeroom and specialist teachers (PE, Music, Art, World Languages, Learning Support and EAL).
This evening is not, however, a time for sharing specific information about individual students. As always, if possible, it will be important for both parents to attend Open House, especially if you have more than one child in the Elementary School. Families with children in multiple grade levels might need to divide and attend different classes at the same time. Please keep in mind that this evening is for parents only and there will be no child care provided.
Open House is a vital step in fostering a strong home-school partnership, and we look forward to welcoming you to this special event.
ES Welcome Back Assembly – Friday, 26th August
Our annual student ‘Welcome Back’ Assembly is scheduled for next week. All classes, PK to 5, will join together as one to celebrate the start of our 2016/17 learning adventure. This is not a performance-focused assembly, but rather a time for our student community to bond. Please note that this assembly is for students only – space and safety concerns restrict our ability to open the assembly for parents. Many thanks for your cooperation.
Check and Update Your Details in Powerschool Parent Portal
Many people move houses over the summer, details change (phone numbers etc). We are in the process of updating phone numbers, addresses and emergency contacts. Could you take the time to login toPowerschool Parent Portal and check the details ISB has on record, update if necessary. It is really important this information is accurate, as we use this in emergency situations.
Instructions
Step 1. Login to Powerschool
- If you have forgotten your password click the “Forgot username or password” link
- If you are new, you should have received an email with your login details, if not please contact Vinit Pathela (vinitp@isb.ac.th)
Step 2. At the bottom of the left hand menu click “Contact Update”. This information will then take a day or two to update (we manually check for accuracy).
If you have any questions or queries, contact Vinit Pathela (vinitp@isb.ac.th)
New Student Groups for New Students in Grades 2-5
New students groups give children the opportunity to share their feelings about their transition and the chance to make friends with other new students. All new students are automatically included and groups meet once a week for four sessions. Groups will take place in August/September. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Ellen Thomas ellent@isb.ac.th or Doug Williamsondouglasw@isb.ac.th.
Grade 4 and Grade 5, Send Your Recorder In!
Students in Grade 4 and 5 will start working with recorder in the next couple of music classes. Some students already have their recorders at school, but if your child brought their recorder home over the Summer, they need to bring it back to school. If your Grade 4 or 5 child is new to ISB and does not have a recorder, they are available for purchase at the ISB bookstore.
Reminder About Parent Meeting Points for Dismissal
DISMISSAL:
Pre-Kindergarteners and Kindergarteners will be dismissed from their respective outside classroom doors. Parents or caregivers should come to the individual classroom door at dismissal time to collect children so that the teachers and IAs can check who is picking them up.
Bus monitors will come to collect bus-riding students. Bus monitors should be informed of any bus rider who has left school early or has left school by other means.
Grade One students will be dismissed from the first grade quad. Any student who has not been picked up by 10 minutes after dismissal should be escorted to the office where parents will be contacted by phone and signed out to a parent or guardian.
Grades Two and Three will be dismissed from their specials classes (Art, Music, PE, or World Language) and parents or caregivers should use the ES Hub Terrace (Library) as a meeting point. Any student who has not been picked up by 10 minutes after dismissal should report to the office or classroom to seek assistance. The office will contact parents by phone and the student will be signed out to a parent or guardian. Please note: this location is a change from last year. Parents should not wait in the “World Language Quad” this year.
Grades Four and Five will be dismissed from the classroom. Parents are encouraged to use the MS/HS cafeteria as a meeting point to alleviate congestion in front of the ES Library and Office. Any student who has not been picked up by 10 minutes after dismissal should report to the office or classroom to seek assistance. The office will contact parents by phone and the student will be signed out to a parent or guardian.
ES Explore (ES After School Activities)
This Semester’s ES Explore Program (After School Activities) will begin on Monday, September 19th. The following are some important dates for you to note in your calendar:
Friday, August 19th – The ES Explore booklet available online for viewing or downloading. Click here and click on the “Activities booklet” link.
Registration will be open online on Friday, September 2nd.
Livnat Ziskinder
ES Explore Coordinator
esactivities@isb.ac.th
ES Panther Choir and ES Orchestra Registration Now Open!
Do you have a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader who loves to sing? Please clickhere to find information about the ES Panther Choir. Do you have a 3rd, 4th or 5th grader who plays violin, viola, cello or bass? Please click here to find information about the ES Orchestra. Please note: both ensembles run separately from ES Explore (After School Activities) and use a different registration system. Also, no payment is required for participation in either ensemble.
ES Strings Exploratory Day
Next Monday August 22 at 6:30pm in the MS/HS strings room (CC123) there will be an hour-long strings exploratory experience for students considering taking beginning violin or cello lessons as a part of ISB’s after school private lesson program. All interested fourth and fifth grade students will have the opportunity to try a violin or a cello and ask the MS/HS orchestra teacher Mr Weinhold questions about beginning to play a stringed instrument. (Registration for lessons is due with Khun Angela at angelak@isb.ac.th by Friday, August 26) Contact Mr Weinhold at toddw@isb.ac.th more more information.
A New Musical Opportunity for Grades 3, 4 and 5 Students
The ES music department is piloting the first ever ISB ES Orff Ensemble this fall! In accordance with the approach of music educator and composer Carl Orff, students will be challenged in a fun, playful environment, and will experience and create music through playing, singing and movement. The Orff Ensemble is open to a maximum of 25 students, and will take place on Mondays and Thursdays starting on September 19th. The season will culminate with performances at International Day and Festival of Lights. You can register for this through ES Explore after Sept. 2. Please click here for more information.
After School Mother Tongue
We are pleased to let you know about our “mother tongue” after school classes and hope that your children may be able to participate.
At the moment, we have classes in Danish, German, Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, Korean and Swedish. We would like to run more classes so you might like to talk to Paul Dufficy (our Mother Tongue Coordinator paul@isb.ac.th), or your country / region representative on the PTA if you are interested. Paul Dufficy is located in the Community Activities Office and is here on Monday-Wednesday.
Please see our Mother Tongue Blog for information about bilingualism, mother tongue programs, research and articles of general interest to do with language.
https://inside.isb.ac.th/mothertongue/
New Parent Orientation
Thank you to all the new parents who joined us Friday morning for our ES New Parent Orientation! As promised, here is the link to the slideshow.
U11 Sports
Please click link for information about U11 sports
Panthers Football Club
Panthers Football Club is a new year-round elite soccer program for the U9 and U11 age groups, for Bangkok Youth Soccer (BYS) participants. These teams will play competitive matches on Sundays against other schools and soccer academies, with home games played at ISB. All players selected will also receive an advanced team training session during the week at ISB.
For further information: please take a look athttps://www.isb.ac.th/community-soccer/panthers-fc.
IMPORTANT DAY CHANGE: Training for U11 will be held on Thursdays from 4-5pm (instead of Wednesdays as previously communicated).
BYS team: Maria van Zant, Rosalina Hernandez, Annette Broerse and Emilie Huisman
The ISB Athletic Department is looking to fill the following coaching positions:
U13-U15 Cross Country Coach
U13 boys Basketball coach
U11 boys Basketball coach
If you are interested please contact Mark Jaspers markj@isb.ac.th
Panther Run Series – Race #1
Feel like jump starting your fitness now that school has begun and summer is a distant memory? Come join the ISB Cross Country Runners at the first Panther Run on Saturday, August 27. There is a 5 km and a 3 km race. All proceeds go to Operation Smile.
Registration/Warm-up: 6:45 AM in the Breezeway
Race Start: 7:15 AM sharp.
Cost: 200 Baht for Adults; 100 Baht for Students
See you on the track!
ISB Cross Country Coaches
(Repeat) Essential Paperwork
Some important paperwork will be coming home the first days of school, such as departure/arrival form, “Safe Haven” form, etc. Please make sure you look for them, and return to your child’s homeroom teacher.
eNews Guidelines
Shelley Bragg
shelleyb@isb.ac.th
ISB eNewsletters provide a valuable avenue for communication within the ISB parent community. For your convenience we have provided you with our eNewsletter guidelines below.
Submitting an announcement for publication
ISB accepts announcements from ISB families for potential publication in our eNewsletters. The announcements are generally intended to highlight events that occur at ISB and/or highlight information about ISB.
What to include in the announcement
- A title for your announcement
- An email contact for further information
Where to submit your announcement
4publish@isb.ac.th is for announcements of interest to the entire ISB community.
tinaratr@isb.ac.th is for Elementary School (ES) announcements of interest to ES families.
maurilib@isb.ac.th is for Middle School (MS) announcements of interest to MS families.
vijitl@isb.ac.th is for High School (HS) announcements of interest to HS families.
Your announcement will be submitted to the appropriate Principal and/or to our Director of Marketing and Communications for review. ISB reserves the right to determine which announcements will and will not be published, and to edit announcements that are approved for publication.
Frequency of eNewsletter mailings
The ISB eNewsletter that is for the entire community is sent out on Thursdays. Announcements for potential publication in this newsletter must be received by noon on Thursdays.
The ES, MS, and HS eNewsletters are sent out on Fridays. Announcements for potential publication in these newsletters must be received by noon on Fridays.
Calendar of Events
August 2016
| Aug. 1-22 | After School Dance (ASD) Registration |
| Aug. 15-26 | ISB Music Program (IMP) Registration |
| Aug. 20 | Community Activities Office (CAO) Information, Registration & Payment Day 9:00-12:00(ES a/c gym) |
| Booster Pancake Breakfast | |
| Aug. 22 | ES Thai After-School Begins 2:30 pm |
| Aug. 25 | ES Learning Support (pull-out LS) Tier 3 and English as Additional Language (pull-out EAP) Parent Meeting 5:30 pm (204 A) |
| ES Open House 6:30 pm (Chevron) | |
| Aug. 26 | Board of Trustees Retreat, 7:30 am (Best Western) |
| Aug. 30 | 1:10 Early Dismissal |
| Sep. 2 | ES Explore (After School Activities) Registration Open |
